Dresserz™ Dresser Knobs Make Kid’s Bedroom Organization Fun and Easy

When I work with families, organizing the kid’s bedroom is always one of mom’s challenges.  Kid’s go through so many developmental stages – infant, toddler, pre-schooler, pre-reader, reader, elementary school age, etc. etc.  so it is always a challenge to develop systems that work at each stage. Recently I found a great decorative solution for organizing kid’s clothes that also reinforces pre-reading  and organizational skills.  Dresserz™ dresser knobs for boys and girls:

Dresserz™ dresser ceramic knobs are 2″ in diameter and come in 2 styles (boys & girls)  in a set of 6 dresser knobs, available as individual knobs, or in packs of two. With Dresserz™ knobs, mom doesn’t have to make her own picture labels to place on the dresser drawer as I’ve seen many moms do.

Here’s what the sets looks like:

For warm weather, four new styles were just added:

Three for girls: shorts, skirts and tank tops

And one for boys:

What a great organizational solution for moms and kids!  Why didn’t I think of this??

What I also like about these knobs is that each knob is multi-colored, making it easy to match most kid’s room decor. And installation is easy – anyone can do it.  Each ceramic knob measures 2″ in diameter and comes with a 1″ screw that fits most dressers.

We now carry these fun, colorful and educational Dresserz™ knobs in The Simplified Home e-store.

Originally posted 2010-04-29 11:02:49. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Is Your Laundry Getting the Care it Deserves?

If you’re like most busy folks, the answer is probably no. Most people don’t stop long enough to find out what all those little symbols mean. Even if you do think about it, they are usually written so small you’d have to have a magnifying glass to see the words!

Well here is a FREE quick 1-page printable that will help you out. It can be posted in the laundry room as a reminder to you or show your family members how to care for clothes so they last longer. This printable was a great resource when I was teaching my children (now 11 & 14) how to do the family laundry. It’s also a great resource for teens who may be moving out soon or anyone who doesn’t do the laundry often enough to remember what the symbols mean!

Here’s another handy laundry organizing gadget that we couldn’t do without in our home – Lock-A-Socs.

This handy gadget keeps a pair of socks matched all the way through the laundry process. You just stick the toe of each sock in the pair through each gripper and drop them in the laundry basket or washer. The pair of socks stay matched through the wash, dryer and then back into the drawer. Each family member can have a different color, making putting socks away much easier as well.

No more sorting socks! Can you imagine the time you’ll save each week? We saved a good hour by not having to sort the family’s socks each week after they came out of the dryer. The socks make it back into my our drawers much quicker too. The Lock-A-Soc completely eliminates the sock sorting and matching process.

Lock-A-Socs can be found in our store – The Simplified Home.net.

I’d love to hear your time-saving laundry tips – please leave your tips below in the comments.

Originally posted 2010-05-13 11:26:59. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

John Rosemond is my Hero!

When I began writing my book, Mom, Can I Help Around the House? I consulted the expertise of many highly regarded child development experts. One of my favorites is John Rosemond. When my oldest was about 3 years old (she’s now 14), I was fortunate to have had the opportunity to attend a presentation of his at my church and found his traditional philosophies about raising children to be identical to my own. I have read several of his books as well. This week I happened upon an article by John Rosemond that I had to include on my blog. His no-nonsense approach just tells it like it is, and I believe today’s parents need reminders like this to bring them back to reality of what our role is of a parent. This is what my book and chore system is all about, but I could never say it as eloquently as John Rosemond has in the following article.

Teach children the skills they need to be independent

The purpose of raising a child is to get him or her out of your life and into a life of his/her own.

1. Put yourself at the center of your child’s attention, not the other way around. It is a simple matter to discipline a child who is paying attention to you and nigh-unto impossible to discipline a child who is not.

In that regard, always keep in mind that the more attention you pay a child, the less attention the child will pay to you.

2. Put your child into a meaningful role in your family, one that is defined in terms of responsibilities known as chores (remember them?).  By the time your child is 4 years old, he should be contributing significant time and effort on a daily basis to the maintenance of the household.Your child’s chores should not be assigned haphazardly, but should be established as a routine.

In addition to picking up after himself and keeping his own living space clean and orderly, he should be working in “common areas” of the home, doing such things as dusting and vacuuming.

You do tell people that your child is gifted, do you not?

Without chores, a child is a mere consumer, on a perpetual entitlement program, and entitlements do not strengthen people or culture. Grow a strong child.

3. Keep television and other electronic media out of your child’s life until your child has learned to read well and is self-entertaining.The research is clear that electronic media shortens attention span, interferes with the development of certain critical thinking skills and develops a dependency that leads to frequent complaints of boredom.

Remember that an average of just two hours of “screen time” a day means your child is absorbing electronic stimulation to the tune of 730 hours a year. That’s the equivalent of eighteen 40-hour work weeks.

Think of the creativity that’s being lost. Grow a child with a strong brain.

4. From day one, keep clutter out of your child’s life by keeping toys and other “stuff” at a minimum.
Paradoxically, children who entertain themselves well (low-maintenance children) tend to have few toys. These children are also more grateful for and take better care of what they have. Grow an imaginative, creative child.

5. Emphasize manners, not skills.

Sixty years ago, most children came to overcrowded first grades not knowing their ABCs, yet at the end of the year were reading at a higher level than today’s kids, most of whom are already reading in kindergarten.

That happened because parents of 60 years ago taught proper behavior, not skills; therefore, teachers taught skills, not proper behavior. Grow a polite child.

6. Love your child enough to grow a happy child.

Family psychologist John Rosemond answers parents’ questions on his Web site at www.rosemond.com.

As I write this, my girls are happily doing their chores. To receive the first chapter of my book Mom, Can I Help Around the House? , visit www.KidsandChores.net.

Originally posted 2008-12-13 19:28:33. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

The Organized Student – create a designated study space for school success

After you’ve considered and established your student’s daily routine, it’s time to create an efficient study space to maximize your child’s study routine.

If you want to raise successfully organized students, you must give them the tools they need to succeed. A proper study space, that is both comfortable and fully stocked with school supplies, is essential to get kids motivated for after-school studying.

Start by deciding where your kids will do homework. Involve them – ask where they prefer to study, considering their age and independence level. Do they like the privacy and quiet of a desk in their bedroom? Or do they want to be near you in a centrally located area such as the kitchen or family room? It’s also important to consider your child’s learning style and ability to focus. Given the choice, my daughter would study in front of the TV, but I know that doesn’t work for her with all the added distractions. Whether she likes it or not, I know that for her to be successful, she needs to do her schoolwork in a quiet area with minimal distractions. Students need to understand that although parents will consider their preferences, the parent may make the final decision on the most effective study space.

Once you decide on the best study space for your child’s learning style, maturity level and routine, make sure it’s well stocked with supplies. If your child has a desk, you may choose to organize supplies inside the drawers or in containers on top of it.  Make sure to categorize, containerize and label items (such as writing utensils in one area, paper in another) so the desktop and drawers don’t become chaotic catch-alls.

For those that study outside their bedrooms, create a portable office. This will allow them to work anywhere inside (or even outside) your home. A tackle box or any type of small storage box (even a shoebox) will do. For storing school papers, like graded tests, handouts, etc. I like small desktop file boxes like the Show Off by Sterilite. Notice the lid with handle that allows for easy mobility.

Fill the portable supply box with supplies such as pens, pencils, sharpeners, crayons markers, highlighters, colored pencils, glue sticks, scissors, tape stapler, paper clips, ruler, calculator, sticky notes, paper, and any other supplies that your child frequently uses. Keep an age-appropriate dictionary and Thesaurus handy. Also consider keeping small stock of rarely needed but important project accessories, such as report covers and poster board.

At the end of each study session, remind your students to put away any home supplies they used and pack up their school materials so they’re ready for the next day’s use. Teach them to make a list of items that need replenishing. Maintain consistency but allow for flexibility for happy and confident kids!

Suggested tools:

Task clips:

Informative File Folders:

To Do Notepad:

Originally posted 2009-09-04 16:29:10. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

The Importance of Giving Children Household Chores at Home

The importance of giving children household chores

Those of you who follow my blog know that I am a strong advocate of kids doing their age-appropriate fair share of chores around the house. From my experiences as a Professional Organizer for busy families, I feel so strongly about this that I wrote a workbook on the topic and developed a home management system ~ Mom, Can I Help Around the House ~ that incorporates teaching the children to be active members of the family team.

Well, I just happened upon this fantastic video featuring Georgette Constantinou, PhD.  Administrative Director of Pediatric Psychiatry at Akron Children’s Hospital, titled, Household chores an important part of preparing children for life challenges. Dr. Constantinou discusses the importance of children learning and being accountable for household responsibilities. She explains that doing chores is an important step in preparing kids to meet life’s challenges, because it helps them understand there is no free ride.

According to Kris Jenkins, University of Missouri human development specialist, “Families that work together and share responsibilities raise children who understand the value of work.  Giving children jobs around the home helps parents and teaches children they are important cogs in the household wheel. Chores help children learn to take pride in their work and gain self-respect.”

Now that kids are out of school for the summer, this is the best time to corral those little minds and begin teaching them vital home management skills. Here’s why:

1. No distractions like homework and school activities.
2. Keep the kids occupied and contributing to something bigger than themselves, instead of staring at the computer or TV screen for the next 3 months?
3. Contrary to what it may seem, doing household chores together as a family creates bonding and family fun. My kids actually like it when we’re all doing chores together – it gives them a sense of purpose and pride, and family togetherness.

These are just a few reasons why the start of summer is a great time to begin teaching your children these skills and for you to get a home management system in place in your home. Just think, when school activities start again in the fall, you’ll feel so much more in control of your time and your home.

To help you get started, I’m offering a 10% DISCOUNT on Mom Can I Help Around the House workbook and chore binder through July 31, 2010. I’ve never offered a sale before, so take advantage of the savings NOW! (At checkout, enter coupon code “summer“.)

Go here to learn more KIDS AND CHORES and to get your discount.

Originally posted 2010-05-27 14:30:53. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Organizing Small Spaces – Lovely Organized Laundry Rooms

So far in my weekly Organizing Small Spaces series I’ve addressed your home’s entry way and bathrooms. The third installment in the series is about organizing your laundry room.

Do you dread visiting your laundry room? Maybe you’d have more fun sorting your whites if the space was more organized!  Here are a few tips for making it a pleasant and inviting atmosphere.

There’s no reason a laundry room has to be dark and dingy. Paint the walls a light, happy color. Make sure to use the maximum-allowed bulb wattage in your light fixtures. Add task lighting, as needed, some inexpensive, framed artwork to the walls, and a clock or timer.

If you need more storage space, add a couple of rows of shelving above the washer/dryer. Keep laundry necessities – such as detergent, stain removal pens, fabric softener, an iron, starch, and bleach – within easy reach so you can grab and go. Use baskets and boxes (labeled of course) to hold not-as-frequently used things such as clothespins, old rags, and your pile of missing-a-mate socks. If you prefer hidden storage, install some inexpensive cabinets on one wall (available at any home improvement store).

Drying racks are nice if you enjoy line-drying your clothes. There is even a variety of wall-mounted, fold-out options available that will save floor space.

To make laundry day easier for everyone, implement a laundry sorter/hamper and teach your family to place whites in a white basket or hamper and darks in a colored basket. Our laundry sorter has been a life-saver. I’ve taught my kids to use it religiously. If they don’t get their laundry in the sorter it doesn’t get washed. I recommend purchasing or constructing a laundry sorter that is very sturdy – don’t try a cheap one.  If you prefer that you kids have their own laundry basket, the collapsible kind is preferred – it takes up less room and can be flattened and slid under a bed or between furniture when empty. This type is great for dorm rooms and apartments too.

Do you battle the piles of unsorted socks in your home? To get dressed in the morning, do your kids have to go fishing in the abis of unsorted socks to find a matching pair. That used to be our story. But I found Loc-A-Soks. With Loc-A-Soks (also called Sock-a-Locs) you’ll never have to sort socks again, because a pair is matched before going into the laundry, and a pair stays matched together with Loc-A-Sok gripper through the entire laundry process.  Kids love the bright colors and find it fun to stick their socks in the grippers.

If you dry clean frequently, add a separate basket for dry cleaning, preferably close to the door where you leave the house. Having the basket there will be a reminder as you are leaving the house.

Place clean, folded laundry in color-coded or labeled laundry baskets. Have family members retrieve their baskets from the laundry room, or deliver them to their rooms, so they can put away their own stuff. Remember … many hands make light work!

For more tips and ideas about getting kids to help with laundry and other household chores, learn about our household chore system, Mom, Can I Help Around the House.

Originally posted 2010-07-02 13:54:13. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Clean Your Computer in 5 Minutes or Less

Since most of us today depend on our computer to get things done, it’s

increasingly important to be sure that your computer is working at it’s optimal level. I

often see in cluttered areas, computer screens and keyboards full of dust and grime. Dirty keyboards can also harbor germs! Yuck!

If you’re investing time to declutter and organize your office, don’t forget the workhorse of your business – your computer.

Here is a quick 5 step cleaning process for your computer and keyboard that should take you 5 minutes or less.

Step 1 - Unplug all electrical cords (if you have a laptop, remove the batter). Dip a foam swab in rubbing alcohol and very carefully and gently run it over any vents and openings on the monitor’s frame and base (speaker holes, cord inputs, etc.). Follow up with a dry swab. Dampen a soft, lint-free cloth with water and give the rest of the exterior a once-over.

Step 2 - Wipe the screen top to bottom with a barely damp cloth. Turn the keyboard upside down over a trash can and shake it to dislodge crumbs. Holding a can of compressed air upright, shoot small bursts in the gaps between keys to wisk away addition dirt and particles.

Step 3 - With an alcohol-dipped swab, trace the edges of the keyboard and the outside of each key.

Step 4 - Swipe the top of each key gently with a fresh cloth dampened with rubbing alcohol – no need to press down.

Step 5 - Rub the mouse, including the bottom, with rubbing-alcohol cloth. Be sure that the sensors on the bottom are free from lint and particles.

You’re done!

I also recommend purchasing or constructing a stand for the CPU to lift it off the floor a few inches. You’d be surprised how easy it is for dust bunnies to make their way into the inner workings of your CPU that can clog vital components. You can find this at any office supply store.

Need help in with your own organizing projects? Simplified Spaces is available to assist you! Visit Simplified Spaces Professional Organizing Solutions to learn more.

Originally posted 2010-08-12 10:50:26. Republished by Blog Post Promoter